Marvel's ambitious plan for new superhero movies extends all the way until 2028, according to a new profile of the Disney-owned studio's president, Kevin Feige.

Marvel Studios has seen huge success since debuting six years ago with the Robert Downey Jr-starring Iron Man. In 2012 The Avengers, which unites the character with Earth-defending pals Thor, The Hulk and Captain America, became the third-highest-grossing film of all time with $1.5bn at the global box office. So far Marvel has put out nine movies, including current release Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and there are at least three more in pre-production.

Once this year's Guardians of the Galaxy and next year's The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man are out of the way the studio is rumoured to be planning a film based on Doctor Strange, as well as inevitable further instalments in the Thor, Captain America and Iron Man sagas. But Feige told Bloomberg Businessweek that Marvel had identified more than 8,000 characters in their comic-book back catalogue that could feature in standalone movies. On the wall of his office is a map of films reaching well into the next decade.

"It's like looking through the Hubble telescope. You go, 'What's happening back there? I can sort of see it,'" Feige told the magazine. "They printed out a new one recently that went to 2028."

Bloomberg's profile mentions that Feige recently met with Disney to discuss new characters being introduced in next year's Age of Ultron that could feature in their own films. So far, prime candidates would appear to include Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Quicksilver and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, who will both make their debut in Joss Whedon's superhero sequel.